ALIVE IN WONDERLAND

Watch the video from last night.

Last night a colossal show came to the Honda Center. It was massive. It was enormous. It was "Walk with Dinosaurs--The Arena Spectacular" and it was one of the most unique and awe-inspiring live shows I've ever seen.    

Based on the BBC TV series, the show runs under two-hours long (which includes a 20 minute intermission) and features 17 stunningly realistic, "live" dinosaurs along with running narrative by the J. Peterman-cald paleontologist. 

The show is packed with facts, science and history all played out in spectacular sets and dumbfounding special effects.  "Some people say science is boring," says the paleontologist.  "But, it's really one big adventure."  Your kids (and you) will feel the same way after seeing the show.  Science made fun.  Priceless. 

Walking with Dinosaurs is playing at the Honda Center now through Sunday and I have a family four-pack of tickets to give away for the 5 pm performance on Sunday night.   Just leave a comment to enter.

Today is my husband, Larry's, birthday and since he's a twin it's also his brother's birthday. That's how it works with twins.  It does make some things easy, like remembering to pop a card in the mail to your spouse's sibling for his birthday.      

That's the theory anyway. 

I still manage not to get that bit right.  I always wanted to be the type of person who at my funeral people would say, "She never forgot my birthday; every year there was a card in the mail from Suz. I'm sure going to miss that card." *lots of wailing and uncontrollable weeping* 

I try. But it's not easy for me.  Instead, I've settled for people saying, "She always had gum, every time I needed a stick of gum, Suz was there." It's good to have life goals.  

So, since I didn't get a card for Barry I made him this "v-card" to wish him a happy birthday.  I plan on keeping almost all of the promises I make to him. Pretty sure I will.  

Well, after I made this I didn't want Larry to feel bad that  I made Barry a video and not him (you know how twins are) so here is a video I made for Larry and posted it on his Facebook page.  

(I didn't like any of the thumbnails Vimeo offered for this video so I used a photo from the movie "The Other Guys," just because I thought it was a funny movie. It has absolutely nothing to do with the video.)

Happy Birthday, guys.  I'm lucking to have you both in my life :)

Love, Suz 

The food truck craze has taken off with the help of Twitter, Facebook and the Food Network show "The Great Food Truck Race,"  but you might think it's just for people who don't know what a Diaper Genie is or haven't ever strapped a whiny toddler in a car seat.  

Not true.

Families can get a taste of the creative foods offered at all sorts of food trucks all around Orange County.  I headed over to The Honda Center on Saturday for the first annual OC Foodie Fest with my kids and made this video showing you exactly how you can track down one of these restaurants on wheels.  I  also spaz out over a hand-crafted ding dong made by The Sweets Truck.  Seriously delicious. 

The November OC Family is our "Dads Issue" and we're looking for OC Dads to feature in our pictorial spread. We want every type of dad represented: young tattooed dads, old tattooed dads, grandpas, stepdads, surfing dads, grouchy dads, coaching dads, geek dads, chef dads, all dads!

If you're an OC Dad, all you have to do is fill out this short survey and submit it. There's only, like, four questions. Super easy. Our Editor will then call you to arrange a photo shoot with other awesome OC Dads.

*****

Okay, now for the real way this is going to happen. OC Moms listen up!

You want a photo of your favorite OC Dad in the November issue, right? But you know if you send him this survey he'll NEVER fill it out, am I right? He is a guy after all.

So, here's what you do, email him these questions from the survey:

What has been the most rewarding thing about being a father?

What has surprised you most about fatherhood?

What has been your greatest challenge as a father?

Lemonade anyone?  

My kids along with their neighborhood buddies set up a lemonade stand on the corner yesterday and raised almost $50 for CHOC Children's!  

Selling only lemonade and iced tea, four kids were able to raise that kind of cash for OC's only all-children's hospital and donate it to its Change CHOC, Change the World Campaign. I know!  I was so proud of each of them. Not to mention all of my neighbors who "tipped" well over the .25 cents the kids charged. 

"We are going to raise the money using donations of all sizes. Don't think that you're $5 here and $10 there isn't helpful--it is!" Pam Brashear De Jong, CHOC's Marketing Manager told me a few months back.  We were talking about ways CHOC was going to raise $125 million they need for the new CHOC tower under construction right now.  When it's completed in 2013, CHOC will be able to attract even more world-class pediatric doctors and continue to serve the families of Orange County with the best care available. 

For CHOC by the numbers and to hear about all the great things CHOC does for us, Read my post "Thank Goodness for CHOC." 

Yes, they are getting help from some heavy hitters, but I encourage other OC families, schools and organizations to help CHOC in the building of their new tower.  

Ways you can help:

Donate online: Any amount by clicking here.

Sponsor your own CHOC fundraising event: Click here to get the deets. 

 Join me and my family as we walk at Disneyland on Oct. 17th in the 20th annual CHOC Walk!  My kids and I joined my dear friend Lisa's team--Babes in Disneyland (named after her blog).  The goal for our group is to raise $500 for CHOC. 

Over 15,000 people will stroll right through Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure and Downtown Disney in a fun and super breezy 5K walk.  It's going to be a blast and we'd love you to come. Join us by clicking here. If you can't make it to the walk, you can donate to my page here. 

Lisa's son Connor might only be a few months old, but he wants you to join us at The CHOC walk, too. He made this video telling us all about it.